The initial projects in a 10-year school construction plan for Boston would target the West Roxbury and East Boston areas and the southern part of the city near the Dorchester-Mattapan line.
The Boston Globe reports that East Boston and Dorchester-Mattapan would get new elementary schools as part of an effort to remedy a shortage of seats in those sections of the city. School officials expect to finalize the purchase of property this fiscal year for a campus in East Boston.
The West Roxbury project, announced last month, calls for demolishing the West Roxbury high school complex and closing the two schools there, Urban Science Academy and West Roxbury Academy. They would be replaced by a new facility for grades seven to 12.
The projects are among a dozen that school officials hope to complete or have underway in 10 years. The idea is to improve or replace outdated buildings, add classroom space in neighborhoods that need it, and eliminate middle schools. Elementary and some high schools would make room for middle grade levels.
The projects were fleshed out in a 166-page report officials disclosed Wednesday night at a School Committee meeting.
Overall, the school system expects to construct five new buildings and convert three middle schools into elementary or high schools. These projects will be in addition to four other ongoing projects in various phases of construction or planning.
